Congressional Leadership agrees to CR to be voted on in September

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced on July 31 that they and President Obama have agreed on a plan to fund the government for the first six months of the new fiscal year, thus avoiding a pre-election battle over spending for FY13, which begins on October 1.  The continuing resolution (CR) would fund the government through March 2013 at the overall discretionary spending level approved in last year’s Budget Control Act.  This level has been used by the Senate for the FY13 appropriations process, but the House has used a figure $19 billion below that level. The CR will be drafted over the August recess, and Congress will wait until September to vote on the bill.

The CR will not take into account the looming sequestration, and so it will be interesting to see how agencies release funding opportunities through January.

House passes first Appropriations bill; Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act

After two days of various floor votes on the Commerce, Justice & Science bill, the House passed it’s first FY13 appropriations bill. Before officially passing the C-J-S legislation, the House took up and adopted H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act.  The legislation will serve as the budget for the House for FY2013.

The overall discretionary spending level contained in legislation is $19 billion below the level contained in the Budget Control Act of last year.  It seeks to prevent the impending sequestration of the defense budget with cuts from mandatory domestic programs through the reconciliation process. However, the Senate will not take this path.  There is an overall desire to not fall under the sequester rules that are pending in January, but a road out through both Houses is not clear at this point.

House likely moving forward on Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations this week

The House appears to be preparing itself for a vote on the first of the 12 FY13 appropriations bills this week.  First up is the Commerce, Justice, Science bill, likely to be on the floor for amendments and votes starting today. Concerns remain as the House has an open rule on amendments, which could lead to major changes in the drafted legislation by Representatives who want to see substantially less funding invested in research.  Attached you will find the current full committee draft of the House legislation.

Full Committee Mark Up of CJS

Transportation bill looming on collapse

As of today, Congress (in particular, the House) has 16 days to come up with a solution to the ongoing debate about federal transportation spending.  On Wednesday, March 14th, the Senate passed a bi-partisan 2 year bill, that would keep our transportation infrastructure/and public transit in operation.  The House has to find a way to come to an agreement with Tea Party republicans who initially insisted on cutting public transportation funds.  Our University Transportation Center at UD is funded through this authorization bill.  We are keeping close tabs on this as it will have an impact on our transportation research, but also how it will impact each employee & students commute.

~Angie Anderson, Director of Federal Relations

Obama Administration releases fiscal year 2013 budget proposal

On Monday, February 13th, the White House released its annual budget blueprint for FY13 to be reviewed for Congressional approval.  The map outlines the Administration’s funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year within the federal agencies.  It appears that overall research funding comes out relatively unscathed, with slight increases across the board in many critical programs, although there are some cuts to a handful of critical programs as well.  It is important to note that this is considered the Administration’s “suggestion” on how to allocate funds, and will likely be altered as Congress, who holds the purse strings, proceeds forward in their budgeting process through September 30th.  Attached you will find a variety of documents that break down the budget request by Agency.  As more information is released, the documents will be updated accordingly.  If you should have any questions please feel free to contact me at your convenience, at 302-540-9342 or in the comments section.

~Angie Anderson, Director, Federal Relations

FY2013 Budget Summary (part I)

APLU Priorities Budget FY2013

FY13 NSF Summary

FY13 NIH Summary

FY13 ED Summary

FY13 DOD Summary

FY13 DoD Budget Chart

FY 13 DOE Summary

DOE FY13 Appropriations Table (1)

FY13 AFRI Summary

 

 

Senate Appropriations Committee Extends Earmark Moratorium

Today, the Senate Appropriations committee, chaired by Senator Inouye, (D-HI) announced that the Senate will extend its earmark moratorium through the fiscal year 2013, shortly before a Chamber vote was scheduled on a permanent ban.  The House has a ban in place through the duration of the 112th Congress.  The press release from the Senate Appropriations Committee can be found at this link.  Senate Appropriations Committee Announces Extension of Earmark Moratorium (2)